Shiftable steering-wheel.



E. H. VINCENT.

SHIFTABLE STEERING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I4. Ism.

Patented June 11, 1918.

l v @5C/2715,71- WSIW gf MSI/MQW SHFTAELE STEERNG-V Speeicat'lon of Letters Patent.

Fatcnted June lill, Mild.

.application filed September lll, 1916. Serial No. 133,996.

To o23 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD H. VINCENT, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented` a new and improved Shittable Steeringfiifheel, of which the following is a specification.

lt is connnon practice to attach to the steering rods of motor vehicles steering wheels which are slidable transversely of the aXis of the rod, or are tiltable about an axis at right angles to that of the rod, or which are capable of both of these motions- 'the object being to secure clearance for the driver in getting into or leaving the seat. These constructions are, however. objectionu able in that, in order to obtain clearance, it is necessary to have the -front wheels turned substantially straight ahead which is often impractical; for example, when standing at the curb.

The object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel wherein the proper clearance to permit the driver to move freely may be obtained regardless of the position occupied by the front wheels of the vehicle; and to 'his end it consists in a steering wheel so mounted upon a steering rod as to be capable of moving directly forward when the latch mechanism, whereby they are normally locked together, is released. lt also consists in a steering wheel so mounted upon the steering rod 'as to be capable of turning about the axis of the latter when the latch mechanism is released and being Jfurther capable of another movement (as shown, a tilting movement) in reference to the steering rod. ln the embodiment shown these movements may be simultaneous. The invention also consists in the details oit construction shown, described and claimed.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a vertical section showing one embodiment oie the invention. Fig. 2 is a 'fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. liig. 3 is a frag mentary section through a modification. Fig. 4 illustrates both in plan and cross` section a modified form of clamping ring.

Like reference characters indicate like parts.

Referring to Figs. land 2, the usual solid steering rod 1 has its upper end portion either slightly tapered or provided. with a collar or seat 2 and terminating in a reduced threaded portion 3 as is cusfwmary.

The rod is also slotted to receive a key Alwhereby a head 5, which is retained'in seatn ed engagement with the collar 2 by a nut '6 screwed on the portion 3, is prevented from turning angularly in respect to the rod. The cuter surface of the head 5 is spherical. y

Mounted on the head is a steering wheel, the rim and spokes 1l of which may be of any suitable construction. The spokes merge into a hub 12, the inner surface of whichv is substantially heinespherical to conform closely to the upper hal' of 'the head; and below the plane which lies at right angles to the axis of the steering rod and passes through the center of the head, is a ring 'l5 a portion of the inner surface of which also conforms closely to the surface of the head. Logs '16 on the hub are perforated and countersunk to receive the adjusting screws 18 that are threaded into corresponding lugs 19 on the member 15, whereby the ease with which the wheel may tilt upon the head may be determined. Soft washers or gaskets 20 of proper thickness may be interposed between the lugs and may extend entirely around the head. For the purpose of allowing an increased amount of tilting of the wheel, the lower inner portion of the ring is cut away as indica'ed at 22.

The head is shown provided with a series of sockets 24, preferably tapered., each of which is adapted t) receive the conical end oi' a latch plunger which is seated in a hollow boss 26 formed on the head; and the sockets may be connected by a shallow groove 27. ln some instances but one socket may be used. As shown, the plunger in cludes a head having aI substantially cylindrical body portion 28 (the rear end ol' which is bored out to receive a coil spring 29) and a rod 30 (the outer end of which forms' a linger grip El) which is screwed into the portion 28 and passes through the spring 29 and through the plug 32, the latter preferably being retained in the en larged outer end of the opening in the boss by a pin 33. 'lhe plug is also preferably slotted at to receive a cross-pin 36 that passes through the rod 30 and prevents arial rotation whereby an easy gripping olf the linger piece 31 is insured.

ln use, even when the front wheels areI turned in sharply toward lthe curb, it is only necessary, in order to tilt the wheel directly lilo nooo

away from the flriver to secure maain'iurn. clearance. to release the latch. 'lhe wheel, upon being tilted back towarfl normal position, brings the latch into registration "with the groove 27, a'ttcr which a sliglitiolation of the Wheel about.- the anis oli' the rofl registcrs the latch with one of thcsockcts. bviously the groove might extend partly around the head or might be omittect The modification shown in Fig. 8 (litters from that heretofore described merely in that the top of the hub l2 if; removed and the Steering rod 37 malle. hollow to allow the passage ot 'the various engine control lorls and tubes 38, 39 and 40, the, upper entla of which are provided with Quilable operaling' levers (not shown) in the usual Way.

css

Referring; to Fig'. 4, the lower sifle ot the clan'iping ring Il-l, which corresrifmflo to ther ring l5, is nolehefl al a series oi' pointa4 (the wifltha of the notcheal preferably boinfnr greater than the diameter ot thc Steering' rofl) wherel'rv the angflel which the wlicol may be tilted is increaactl. The number ol the notches' may obviously be varied. ln use the latch is relfrfasfjal :incl the wheel is strung about thel axis ot the roti until one, oit these notches is directly in ilront of the latter, al'ter which the, wheel is tiltefl; and, upon the lrircr resuming;- bicv seat, a reversal of the motions results in thc wheel becomingf operatively connectcfl to the, lie/arl as before.

.lt is clear that many changes may bc inailc in the details of construction without le partingr i'roin the spirit ot' my invention; l do not., therefore., u'iah lo be limited other wisey than aa inflicatcd by the subjoinetl claims.

l. ,ln cfnnljiination, a sleeriingr rod for a motor Vehicle. a heafl mounted thereon, a` steering wheel carried bj.' the head, latch means whereby the, rorl is normally canaefl to rotate with the wheel, Said wheel being canaille of angular movement about the rofl when the latch means is in inoperative posil ion. saifl wheel also ha vintr another Inovev nient in rexin-rt lo the rot] at an anglo lo tlie.

first mentioned movement.

Q. lin coinbinalifm. a steering rocl for a motor rehiele. a heafl inonnlefl thereon. a steering wheel earrieil b r the, head, latch ineana \\'hereb`\' the rofl is normally caused lo rotate with (he wheel. sai l wheel beine fran-hie ol angular ino\'eni \,nt about the, :uns of the rml *when the lalfh means is in inoperative position'. saifl ,wheel also being tiltable al an ant-le to the axis ol.t the roll whereby clearance ia obtained.

3. ln combination. a steering; rofl 'for a motor vehicle. a heafl mounted thereon, a l'eerinrr wheel rarrieil bv the heafl, latch means lua-eb); (he rod is nfnnlall)I CauSefl lo rotaie witlrthe wlieel, Said wheel being cai/able ot nnirecaal angular movement in respect aaifl rofl when the lateh means is in inoperative position.

ln eornliinzition, a steering rod tor a motor vehicle, a heafl inounterl thereon, a Steering Wheel carried liv thc head, lat-ch means whereby the rod norn'ially caused to rotate. with the Wheel, Saifl Wheel being capable, ot nnivcrsal angular movement in respect tflSalitl lieafl when the latch means is in inoperative position.

5. l'n combination, a snoring rod for a motor vehicle, a Spherical head mounted thereon, a steeringr wheel carried by the licatl. latch means whereby the, llcatl is normally caused to rotate with the Wheel.

6. ln combination, a hollow steering' roel 'l'or a motor vehicle, a hollow lieatl mounted thereon, sairl :steering rofl anal sairl, lieafl being' arranpyfl to allow the pasagre of controlling mechanism 'for the. vehicle passing* up through the rorl, a steering wheel carric l by the heafl, latch moans whereby the roel is normally causcfl `to rotate with the wheel, oaiol Wheel being capable of angular movement about the axis oil the rod when the latch means is in inoperative position, aaifl wheel also havinganother movement in respect to the rofl at angle to tliefl'irat mentioned movement., y

7. ln combination. a. hollow steering rocl for a. motor vehicle, a hollow head inounteel thereon, said steering rofl anti Saiol llcacl looingr arranged to allow the passage of controlling mechanism tor the ichicle passing; up through the rofl, av steorilig Wheel .carrierl by the head, latch means whereby the rofl is normally causecl to rotate With the wheel, saifl Wheel helingr capablc of angular n'iovcment about the anis ot the rocl when 4the latch moans is in inoperative position, said wheel also beinatilt-al'olo at an angle to the airis ot the roti whereby clearance is obtainecl.

ln combination, a hollow steering rod 'l or a motor vehicle, a hollow lieacl mounted thereon, Saiel steering roel and saitl licacl beingr arranged. to allorif the passage, of controlling mechanism for the vehicle passing up through the rotl. latch means whereby the rofl if; normally caused to rotate with the wheel., said `wheel boing" capable of universal angular movement in respect to saicl rofl when the latch means is in inoperative position.

9. ln combination, a hollow steering rod for a motor vehicle, a hollow Spherical head mounted thereon, a steering?,- Wliccl mountefl on the head, said steering' rorl 'anfl saifl head heine; arranged to allow the passage of corr trollingY Inechalliisin for the vehiolc, latch incanswhereliy the lieafl is normally cause to rotatc with the Wheel.

10. ln combination, a steering rod for a motor vehicle, a spherical head nionntecl gli illlll Elli@ www@ e, steering Wheel mounted on the 7 'd neeel having e groove and a socket iefein. eind leech means carried by the Seid latch means including e plunger f ente-cl to bek received in the groove and to c guided liereliy into the socket.

l llt ln ccmbina-tion, a steering rod foi' e motel vehicle, a spherical heed mounted ileeeen; eteeiring Wheel mounteol on the head; sei heed having a circumferential 'groove and a, plurality of sockets in communiceton with the roove, and latch means carried by the whee said latch means including e plunger adapted to be received in the groove and tel be guided thereby into either of the sockets.

EDWARD H. VNCENT. 

